Tuesday, 30 September 2014

Following on from their Adnams Plate Final success the previous day, the Eels Foot Inn II went into the Grand Final semi-finals as, in theory anyway, the outsiders/underdogs. Having achieved runners-up spot in their own division and being awarded the Seed 12 position in the league's play-off format, the odds were stacked against the Eels Foot'ers.

In each successive round they faced a Divisional Winner, starting in the Last 16 against a well-fancied strong team in the shape of Parrot & Punchbowl Aldringham. However a fifth-game decider saw the Eels clip the Parrots wings and take their place in the Last 8.

There they came up against the newly formed yet very experienced Bromeswell Boules Club, who had somewhat a bad day at the office and came unstuck against the Eels by a scoreline of 4-0.

By this time the Eels Foot team had already reached the Adnams Plate Final, facing their own team-mates Eels Foot Inn I on the Saturday at Aldeburgh.

Having dispatched them by 3-1, it was onto the serious business of the Coastal Semi-Finals. Up first was Kettleburgh, who had won the Tally Ho division, and had only qualified on Thursday evening themselves by beating Crown Inn Snape 3-2 at Stowmarket.

With young Baillie Inglis playing like a seasoned adult (despite only being 7 years old), the Eels never let Kettleburgh in and sent them packing with a 4-0 victory, setting up the Coastal Final against Gt Finborough Chestnut Horse, who themselves had already secured the Adnams Cup the day before.

Some it was somewhat fitting that the Cup and Plate winners were now facing each other in the Coastal Grand Final and a real see-saw battle commenced. At the halfway point it was 1 game apiece and this deadlock remained in the second half, seeing the match reach 2-2 and a fifth game decider in front of the vast assembled and our corporate sponsors.

A tense game saw both teams moving the score peg but then Finborough got a six on end end to seemingly gain the upper hand. This however wasn't the case and the Eels fought back to reach 12 points and be holding with the match-winning boule. Surprisingly Finborough couldn't do anything about it and the Grand Final finished 13-9 to the Eels Foot.

A tremendous effort, having beaten 4 Divisional winners along the way, and becoming the lowest seed to ever win our Coastal Championship. Also great from a sponsors point of view as they become the first ever actual Adnams pub to win the Coastal title.

Presented at the Grand Finals Weekend, the league introduced some new awards. Similar to the Oscars, and in tribute to one of the leagues original driving forces, the ''Jimmies'' were handed out as follows;

Friend of The League -

Mr Doug Benger (for his sterling work in co-ordinating results, league tables etc, all available by clicking the link on the right hand side)

Forwarding Petanque -

Eels Foot Inn Eastbridge (for promoting petanque by virtue of building an additional 4 pistes this season and hosting two very well attended tournaments, the Eels Cup and the Eels Melee)

Player of The Year -

Jointly presented to Mr Mark Adamson and Mr Paddy Rosseau (Parrot & Punchbowl) for their success in winning the 2014 Moules & Boules at Aldeburgh and the 2014 Eels Cup Plate competition, as well as being part of the Parrot team who won the Ghostship division this season

With the culmination of our 2014 season at the weekend with the honours of the Adnams Cup, Adnams Plate and overall Coastal Championship all settled, the various trophies from the season were awarded, very kindly by Mr Bradley Adnams, of our corporate sponsors, Adnams of Southwold.

Having withheld the ''secret'' news for a few weeks, the announcement was made to the assembled crowd of nearly 100 players and spectators, that Adnams have agreed to continue their sponsorship of the league for the 2015 and 2016 seasons respectively.

This is great news for the league and shows the belief that they have in our own ''petanque product'' and long may that continue.

Sunday, 7 September 2014

As the playing surface is a ''community area'' at the Jimmy Robinson Pistes, Aldeburgh, all the teams that will be involved in either Saturday 27th Septembers Adnams Cup and Adnams Plate Finals and the 4 teams that win through to the Grand Final Play-Offs on Sunday 28th September, are openly invited to practice on the playing surfaces.

Those teams involved in Saturdays and Sundays events will get to play on all 4 pistes, each one plays slightly different, so some knowledge of the playing surface is advisable!!

Quarter Finals (to be played by Thursday 25th September 2014)
*Due to requests, the maximum cut-off date has been amended to 25/9/14, but please note that any evening matches will definitely need to be floodlit)*

Monday, 1 September 2014

The first day of our Grand Finals weekend extravagazana, Saturday 27th September, will see both the Adnams Cup and Adnams Plate Finals being contested, at the Jimmy Robinson Pistes, Aldeburgh, with a start time of 2pm.

In the Adnams Cup, we have the Carlton Crown taking on Finborough Chestnut Horse.

Meanwhile the Plate Final, sees an intriguing line-up when the Eels Foot Inn I Eastbridge take on their ''team-mates'' Eels Foot Inn II Eastbridge.